Sunday, January 26, 2014

From WTRE 1330, a brief story headed "Technology has gone to court." Some quotes:

Decatur Circuit Court and Decatur Superior Court will be doing the initial hearing process through a video conference with the judge in the courtroom and the prisoner at the jail. * * *

Family and friends who wish to be present at an initial hearing can still be present. They would be in the courtroom and could hear the judge and the prisoner. The initial hearing involves the judge telling the accused what he or she has been charged with, the penalties if convicted, makes a determination on whether or not the court needs to appoint an attorney, sets a court date and bond.

Decatur Superior Court Judge Matthew Bailey used the system 5 times this week and Decatur Circuit Court Judge Timothy Day utilized it 3 times.